Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

368. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will indicate the projected intake into each of the primary schools in the Clongriffin, Baldoyle and Howth planning area in September 2023; the way this compares to the projected demographic demand for such places in the area; and if she plans to promote the creation of additional places for the area. [10991/23]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

As the Deputy will be aware, for school planning purposes, my Department divides the country into 314 school planning areas and utilises a Geographical Information System to anticipate school place demand. Information from a range of sources, including Child Benefit data, school enrolment data and information on residential development activity is used for this purpose. Additionally, Project Ireland 2040 population and housing targets inform my Department's projections of school place requirements.

The areas referred to by the Deputy are located in the Donaghmede_Howth_D13 School Planning Area. While the Department is aware of increasing pressures and demand for additional school places in this area, it is important to note that where enrolment pressures arise, it may not be as a result of lack of accommodation but may be driven by the following factors:

- Duplication of applications – pupils have applied for a place to a number of schools in the area

- School of choice – pupils can’t get a place in their preferred school while there are places in other schools in the town/area

- Some towns/areas have single sex schools and while places are available in the school they are not available to all pupils

- External draw – pupils coming from outside the local area

The Department is working to establish the true extent of any capacity issues through ongoing discussions with the relevant school authorities. In that context, similar to the process adopted in advance of the current academic year, the Department is engaging with patron bodies and school authorities to identify particular capacity requirements for the forthcoming years which may necessitate further action to that already in train.

The Department is progressing a number of building projects in the Donaghmede_Howth_D13 planning area under the National Development Plan. This includes provision for mainstream accommodation as well as for children with special educational needs. These projects include a new 16 classroom school with 2 classrooms for pupils with special education needs for Stapolin ETNS with an estimated completion date of August 2023.

Under the provisions of the Education (Admission to Schools) Act 2018, all schools are required to have drafted admissions policies, which have been approved by the patron, following consultation with staff and parents of children who are attending the school. The school’s admissions policy is published on the schools website.

All schools must publish an admissions notice outlining the timelines of the admissions process, this must be published a minimum of one week prior to the admissions process taking place. The notice must, in relation to the school year concerned, provide the number of school places available in the intake group, in the case of a boarding school, the number of residential and the number of non-residential places available and in the case of a school with a special class the number of school places available in the special class concerned.